Separate required from preferred
Hard requirements control whether the row should move forward. Preferences help you decide how to position your examples.
Requirements
Job requirements checklist from indexed company hubs
Use this page when a posting lists duties, schedule coverage, physical tasks, eligibility notes, application tasks, or first-week expectations that affect whether the role is worth applying for. It turns requirement signals from the current HireTea public index into a practical checklist.
25 indexed hubs compared
1 requirement groups
5 job categories
Quick answer
What job requirements should you check before applying?
Check the exact duties, department, schedule coverage, physical tasks, minimum eligibility wording, application tasks, training clues, and first-week setup before you apply. A good application decision is based on the active posting and employer messages, not only the company name or a broad role title.
Check the work area
Department, property, station, team, or site details often explain what the requirement actually means day to day.
Save the current wording
Requirements can change when a posting expires, so keep the exact text, job ID, URL, and date viewed.
Public index
Requirement signals in the current indexed set
These groups show which requirement decisions repeat across indexed company hubs. They are planning signals, not guarantees about a specific opening. The active posting, recruiter message, manager reply, and first-week instruction should control the final decision.
| Requirement group | Indexed hubs | Example companies | Common signals to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical task requirement | 25 | Walmart, Amazon, McDonald's, The Home Depot, and FedEx | application and availability screening, confirm age and eligibility in the current posting, general: 18, weekends, evenings, and holidays, and application and role screening |
Definitions
Requirement group definitions
Use these definitions to decide what kind of evidence you need next. A requirement is useful only when it tells you what to do before applying, interviewing, accepting, or arriving for the first week.
Physical task requirement
The role has repeated standing, lifting, movement, pace, tool, safety, or environment expectations that should match the applicant's realistic day-to-day capacity.
Compare the posting duties with training notes, first-week expectations, and any role-specific physical wording before applying.
Schedule coverage requirement
The role depends on specific days, shift windows, weekends, holidays, peak periods, or training hours that may not match the headline schedule.
Write down the required coverage, your nonnegotiable conflicts, and the exact question you need answered.
Age and eligibility requirement
Some roles have age, permit, credential, equipment, department, or local eligibility language that can change by role and location.
Use the active posting as the source of truth and save the exact wording that controls the application decision.
Application task requirement
The applicant may need to complete an account step, assessment, appointment, confirmation, or portal task before the employer can move the row forward.
Save the platform, account email, task label, deadline, and confirmation message with the application row.
Department scope requirement
A broad title may hide a specific department, property, station, customer type, tool set, or reporting path.
Clarify the department or work area before writing answers, comparing offers, or accepting a start date.
First-week readiness requirement
The role looks viable, but the first-week setup still controls what the applicant must bring, learn, wear, access, or confirm.
Connect the requirement note to training, documents, start date, and the person who owns local handoff.
Category patterns
Requirement patterns by job category
Category patterns help you predict which requirement deserves the next check. A retail role may hinge on department coverage and standing. A warehouse role may hinge on pace and shift timing. A professional role may hinge on team scope, tools, and manager expectations.
| Category | Common groups | Physical or task signals | Coverage signals | Department signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | Physical task requirement | lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and stocking: common, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on department, stand: full shift, and food safety: relevant for fresh departments, and lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and accuracy: high for pharmacy-adjacent work | weekends, closing shifts, and seasonal periods, weekends, evenings, and holidays, and 5am stock, weekends, and late close | Front End, Grocery, Deli, and Bakery, Cashier, Grocery, Deli, and Bakery, and Customer Service, Pro Services, Cashier, and Receiver/Stocker |
| Restaurant | Physical task requirement | lift: varies by role, stand: full shift, and food safety: required, lift: 25 lbs, stand: 6-8 hours, and precision tasks: espresso calibration,drink build accuracy, and lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and food safety: required | 5am opens, weekends, and late closes, lunch rush, dinner rush, and Saturdays, and lunch rush, dinner rush, and weekends | Drive-Thru, Front Counter, Food Prep, and Line, Front Counter, Drive-Thru, Kitchen, and Maintenance, and Front of House, Back of House, Drive-Thru, and Hospitality |
| Warehouse | Physical task requirement | lift: 50 lbs or more depending on role, stand: full shift, and pace: repetitive lifting and sorting, lift: 70 lbs in some package roles, stand: full shift, and pace: repetitive package movement, and lift: up to 49 lbs in many warehouse roles, stand: full shift, and pace: repetitive movement and scan accuracy | early morning sort, overnight sort, and weekends, overnight shifts, weekends, and peak season, and preload early morning, twilight sort, and peak season | Fulfillment Center, Sort Center, Delivery Station, and Locker+, Ground Hub, Express Station, Package Sort, and Loading, and Preload, Sort, Loading, and Unloading |
| Hospitality | Physical task requirement | lift: 10-25 lbs depending on property role, stand: extended time, and professionalism: appearance and communication standards, lift: varies by role, stand: extended outdoor shifts, and safety: critical, and lift: varies by role, stand: full shift for many roles, and schedule: nights/weekends/holidays common | weekends, evenings, and holidays, weekends, holidays, and evenings, and weekends, holidays, and event periods | Attractions, Parking, Park Greeter, and Quick Service Food & Beverage, Front Desk, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, and Reservations, and Front Desk, Rooms & Guest Services, Housekeeping, and Food & Beverage |
| Tech | Physical task requirement | lift: not applicable, stand: not applicable, and technical screen: required | interview scheduling flexibility and relocation or hybrid constraints | Search, Ads, Cloud, and Android |
Company examples
Company requirement examples to compare
Use these examples to spot the requirement you should verify next. The company hub gives context, but the employer's current posting decides the exact duties, work area, eligibility language, and first-week setup.
| Company | Entry role signal | Requirement group | Requirement evidence to save | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Associate | Physical task requirement | Front End, Stocking, Online Grocery Pickup, and Grocery, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and stocking: common, weekends, early stock, and evening close, and general: 16 and forklift: 18, tire lube: 18, and alcohol handling: 21 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Amazon | Associate | Physical task requirement | Fulfillment Center, Sort Center, Delivery Station, and Locker+, lift: up to 49 lbs in many warehouse roles, stand: full shift, and pace: repetitive movement and scan accuracy, overnight shifts, weekends, and peak season, and general: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| McDonald's | Crew Member | Physical task requirement | Front Counter, Drive-Thru, Kitchen, and Maintenance, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and pace: rush periods and drive-thru speed, weekends, breakfast shift, and late close, and general: 14 and manager: 18 and late close: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| The Home Depot | Associate | Physical task requirement | Pro Desk, Appliances, Kitchen & Bath Design, and Paint, lift: 50 lbs, stand: 6-8 hours, and ladder: required for some departments, 5am stock, weekends, and late close, and general: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| FedEx | Package Handler | Physical task requirement | Ground Hub, Express Station, Package Sort, and Loading, lift: 50 lbs or more depending on role, stand: full shift, and pace: repetitive lifting and sorting, early morning sort, overnight sort, and weekends, and general: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Target | Team Member | Physical task requirement | Guest Advocate, General Merchandise, Fulfillment, and Style, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and pace: fulfillment and checkout rushes, weekends, closing shifts, and fulfillment rushes, and general: 16 and forklift: 18, management: 18, and distribution center: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Kroger | Associate | Physical task requirement | Front End, Grocery, Deli, and Bakery, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on department, stand: full shift, and food safety: relevant for fresh departments, weekends, early stocking, and evening close, and general: 16 and alcohol sales: 21, bakery or deli: 18, and management: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| UPS | Package Handler | Physical task requirement | Preload, Sort, Loading, and Unloading, lift: 70 lbs in some package roles, stand: full shift, and pace: repetitive package movement, preload early morning, twilight sort, and peak season, and general: 18 and driver: 21 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| CVS Health | Store Associate | Physical task requirement | Front Store, Pharmacy Technician, Beauty, and Photo, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and accuracy: high for pharmacy-adjacent work, weekends, evening close, and pharmacy support hours, and general: 16 and pharmacy tech: 18 and management: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Costco Wholesale | Employee | Physical task requirement | Front End, Cart Crew, Stocker, and Food Court, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and pace: high-volume warehouse retail, weekends, closing shifts, and seasonal periods, and general: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| TJX Companies | Associate | Physical task requirement | Sales Floor, Fitting Room, Front End, and Backroom, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and stocking: common, weekends, closing shifts, and seasonal periods, and confirm age and eligibility in the current posting | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Lowe's | Associate | Physical task requirement | Customer Service, Pro Services, Cashier, and Receiver/Stocker, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and ladder: relevant for some departments, weekends, early stocking, and closing shifts, and general: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Marriott International | Guest Service Representative | Physical task requirement | Front Desk, Rooms & Guest Services, Housekeeping, and Food & Beverage, lift: 10-25 lbs depending on property role, stand: extended time, and professionalism: appearance and communication standards, weekends, evenings, and holidays, and general: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill | Crew Member | Physical task requirement | Line, Grill, Prep, and Cashier, lift: 25-50 lbs depending on role, stand: full shift, and food safety: required, lunch rush, dinner rush, and weekends, and general: 16 and kitchen leader: 18 and management: 18 | Compare the posted duties with the actual standing, lifting, pace, tools, customer contact, and training expectations before ranking the role highly. |
Checklist
Job requirements checklist by stage
Requirement checks change as the application moves forward. Before applying, you need posting evidence. Before interviewing, you need a focused question. Before accepting, you need written confirmation of anything that changes the role. Before Day 1, you need practical instructions.
| Stage | Requirement check | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Before applying | Save the required duties, department, work area, age or credential wording, physical tasks, schedule coverage, platform, and date viewed. | Current posting, job ID, employer URL, role title, location, and copied requirement language. |
| Before an interview | Compare the requirement language with your availability, commute, examples, training questions, and any practical concern you need clarified. | Interview invite, question list, role-fit notes, schedule window, and one focused clarification question. |
| Before accepting | Confirm whether the offer changed the department, schedule, duties, first-week training, required items, or report-to contact. | Offer message, manager reply, first-week note, pay or schedule clarification, and unresolved requirement question. |
| Before Day 1 | Save what to bring, what to wear, who to report to, what setup is due, and what task or training block starts first. | Welcome message, portal task, document note, training schedule, local contact, and arrival instruction. |
Questions
Questions to ask when requirements are unclear
Requirement questions should be short and tied to a decision. The goal is not to ask the employer to restate the whole posting. The goal is to clarify the one requirement that changes whether you apply, interview, accept, or arrive prepared.
Ask which requirement matters most
"Which requirement should I pay closest attention to for this role: schedule coverage, department, physical tasks, or first-week setup?" This helps when the posting is broad.
Ask about the actual department
"Can you confirm which department or work area this opening is for?" Use this before preparing examples for a title that appears in several teams.
Ask about schedule coverage
"Are the posted hours the regular schedule, or are there required training, weekend, holiday, or peak-period hours I should plan around?" This keeps availability precise.
Ask about first-week expectations
"Before I start, is there any required item, setup task, training block, or arrival instruction I should save?" This connects requirements to Day 1.
Mistakes
Requirement mistakes that lead to weak applications
Requirement mistakes usually come from broad titles and missing evidence. Applicants either rule themselves out too early, apply without understanding the actual work, or prepare answers for a different department than the one hiring.
Treating preferred skills as required
Some postings mix must-have requirements with nice-to-have traits. Separate the hard requirement from the preference before ruling yourself out.
Ignoring the department behind the title
The same title can mean different duties across departments, properties, stores, stations, or teams. Save the work-area clue before writing answers.
Skipping practical requirements
A role can look like a skills match and still fail because of required coverage, commute timing, standing, lifting, tools, or first-week setup.
Relying on memory after the posting changes
Requirement wording can disappear when a posting expires. Save the exact text, date viewed, and source before comparing the role.
Evidence
Requirement evidence to keep with each application row
Save the posting URL, job ID, role title, location, department, required duties, schedule coverage, physical task wording, age or credential language, application task, training clue, first-week setup note, source date, and any employer reply that changed your decision. Those records help you compare the role without relying on memory after the posting changes.
Verify the posting
Use the posting checklist to confirm job ID, URL, location, department, pay, schedule, and role scope.
Compare role fit
Use the role fit planner when duties, pace, work area, or manager expectations decide whether the role fits.
Check availability
Use the availability planner when required days, start times, training hours, or coverage windows are the blocker.
Connect the first week
Use the training planner and documents checklist when requirements turn into Day 1 tasks.